Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Biomass Growth, Mineral Content, and Antioxidant Activity in Tomato Plants under Drought Stress

Alam, Mohammad Zahangeer; Choudhury, Tasrina Rabia; Mridha, M. A. U.

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2581608

Journal of Food Quality

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Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion Conclusions Data Availability Conflicts of Interest Authors’ Contributions Acknowledgments Supplementary Materials References Copyright Related Articles

Research Article | Open Access

Volume 2023 | Article ID 2581608 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2581608

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Biomass Growth, Mineral Content, and Antioxidant Activity in Tomato Plants under Drought Stress

Mohammad Zahangeer Alam,¹Tasrina Rabia Choudhury,²and M. A. U. Mridha³

Academic Editor: Nasim Ahmad Yasin

Received30 Oct 2022

Revised18 Jan 2023

Accepted20 Jan 2023

Published07 Mar 2023

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotically associated with crops. They increase biomass production, nutritional elements, and antioxidant activities in food and vegetable crops grown in soil under stress conditions. The present study focused on the effects of AMF (Acaulospora morrowiae, Paraglomus occultum, Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus clarus, and Rhizophagus intraradices) on biomass growth and yield, contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids, activities of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and contents of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), and minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe) in Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties grown in soil under drought stress (<10% moisture). The results showed that root length and shoot mass in plants treated with R. clarus and P. occultum were significantly higher than those of the control (non-AMF) in Minto super tomato. Compared to the control, the shoot’s dry weight and yield were enhanced by 28% and 20% with AMF-treated tomatoes. The CAT activity in P. occultum-treated plants was statistically higher than that of the control in Unnayan tomatoes. H₂O₂ content was detected higher in the control than R. clarus-treated LT896 tomatoes. In plants treated with A. morrowiae and R. clarus, APX activity was significantly higher than that of the control in the Unnayan tomatoes. CAT and APX activity increased by 42% and 66% in AMF-treated leaves of tomatoes compared to non-AMF. Treatment with AMF reduced the content of MDA and H₂O₂ (ROS) in the leaves of tomato plants by 50% and 2% compared to the control, respectively. Potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) of tomato fruits increased by 2%, 13%, 24%, and 37% with AMF treatment compared to the control. These results suggested that biomass growth, yield, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzyme activity, and mineral contents could be enhanced by AMF in food crops grown under drought stress. It is concluded that AMF might be used for the development of AMF-enriched biofertilizers that will improve the nutritional quality of food crops grown under stress conditions.

1. Introduction

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial microbes forming a symbiotic relationship with food crops [1]. AMF could increase the nutrient and water uptake capacity through a hyphal network in the roots of the host plant [2, 3]. In contrast, plants serve as carbohydrates and organic nutrient sources for the AMF [4, 5]. The prominent role of AMF in boosting the uptake of various nutrients, especially phosphate, is already well recorded [3, 6]. This natural symbiosis is highly effective in increasing nutrients within the plant organs [7]. The concentration of nutrients in the colonization of AMF with host plants can be increased by double compared to its non-mycorrhizal counterparts [8]. For instance, the concentration of nitrogen is increased in AMF-colonized leguminous species Melilotus alba [9].

AMF increase soil organic carbon and microbial activity through the interaction with the rhizosphere, which finally enhances the nutrient availability in soils. AMF also boost the photosynthetic contents and its following effect on biomass growth of plants [10]. Consequently, these ubiquitous fungi have various constructive effects on plant biomass growth, soil quality, and defense mechanisms against stresses [11, 12]. There are abundant records of AMF aiding in the vigorous vegetative growth of different plants. AMF increase plants’ biomass of leaves, roots, and shoots [13, 14]. A majority of food crops such as onion, leeks, garlic, carrot, lettuce, cucumber, lentils, rice, mung beans, peas, tomato, and pepper form symbiotic associations with AMF [15, 16]. Recently, we showed that crop productivity increased significantly in AMF-colonized mung bean crops through the formation of photosynthetic products [12]. In addition to this, an excellent positive correlation between AMF colonization and biomass production in carrots and parsley was reported by Regvar et al. [17], suggesting that mycorrhizae can enhance biomass growth in food crops [18, 19].

Around 180 million tons of fresh tomato fruits are produced worldwide from 5 million ha of land [20]. Tomatoes can be consumed as both fresh salad and processed food. Daily consumption of tomato products may provide a superb combination of healthy substances such as minerals, vitamins, flavonoids, and antioxidant compounds like lycopene, beta-carotene, and lutein [21, 22]. Among the antioxidant compounds, lycopene and carotenoids contribute to reddening and enhancing the nutritional quality of tomato fruits [22]. Lycopene works as a scavenger of toxic substances such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) in food crops grown under stress conditions [23]. Consequently, antioxidants also work as potential inhibitors of different diseases like cancer, heart diseases, and macular degeneration [24]. The important incidence of AMF on P uptake was confirmed with generally double the concentration in mycorrhizal olive plants as compared to non-mycorrhizal controls, irrespective of genotype and inoculation. An evidence of higher crop yield and water use efficiency by AMF-colonized tomato genotypes has been reported [25], where elevated levels of N and P concentration, higher photosynthetic rate, and finally increased amount of fruit yield in AM tomato genotype are found. For example, AMF-inoculated tomato plants in arsenic-contaminated soil have been shown to increase nutrient uptake and biomass production, resulting in higher growth parameters [25]. Inoculation of AMF increased P and K concentration in tomato plants under abiotic stress [26].

Numerous research has investigated that AMF reduce oxidative stress in plants grown under abiotic stress [16, 27–29]. This mechanism also enhances superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) [12, 18, 30] in food crops grown in stressed conditions [14, 25, 31–34]. In stress conditions, carotenoids, anthocyanins, chlorophyll, and phenolics were higher in AMF-colonized lettuce leaves [13]. Furthermore, significant enhancement of SOD, CAT, POD, and APX was recorded in AMF plants under stress in food crops [26, 34]. Thus, inoculation of AMF with host plants has the greatest impact on antioxidant activity compared to other symbionts [35, 36].

Photosynthesis reduces due to the dropping of CO₂ in crops grown under drought stress [37]. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the major indicators of drought stress [38]. However, ROS reduces through different mechanisms in food crops grown under drought stress [38]. The key mechanism to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought stress is increasing antioxidant activities [39].

Tomato is highly sensitive to drought stress. The biomass production and photosynthetic pigments reduce in tomato plants under drought stress. Moreover, drought also reduces the enzymatic APX, CAT, DHAR (dehydroascorbate reductase), GST (glutathione S-transferase), GR (glutathione reductase), MDHAR (monodehydroascorbate reductase), POD (peroxidase), and SOD (superoxide dismutase) and non-enzymatic antioxidant AsA (ascorbate), DHA (dehydroascorbic acid), GSH (glutathione), and GSSG (oxidized glutathione) activities and increases oxidative damage, H₂O₂ (hydrogen peroxide), MDA (malondialdehyde), and O₂^•− (superoxide ion) [40]. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are considered one of the most disseminated fungi throughout the world [41]. The symbiotic association between the host plant and AMF substantially improved the resistance to drought stress [42]. Drought stress is regulated in plants by AMF through diverse metabolic pathways [43]. AMF increase water uptake in the host plant, progress water use efficiency and gas change ability [43], alter the morphology of roots [44], adjust hormone levels [45], and decrease the generation of ROS [39] and thus decline the impacts of drought stress. Additionally, AMF also generate glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), which works as a cement that encourages the creation of water-stable aggregates by extraradical hyphae, thus enhancing the water-holding capacity [46]. Additionally, under drought stress, AMF regulate antioxidant activities, osmolytes, and photosynthetic pigments [47].

The Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super tomatoes are hybrid day-length sensitive varieties. The yield is comparatively higher than other varieties. The influence of AMF species (Acaulospora morrowiae, Paraglomus occultum, Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus clarus, and Rhizophagus intraradices) on biomass growth, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant activity in Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super tomato varieties remains unknown under drought stress. Therefore, we studied the effects of AMF on biomass growth, yield, chlorophyll and carotenoids, catalase (CAT), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe) in tomato varieties grown in soil under drought stress. It is hypothesized that AMF will increase biomass growth, antioxidant activity, and nutritional quality in tomatoes and other food crops grown in soil under drought stress.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Soil Sampling

The soil sample was taken from a farmer’s land in Gazipur of Bangladesh. The geographical position of Gazipur District is between 23°53′ and 24°20′ north latitude and between 90°09′ and 90°42′ east longitude. The collected soil was silty loam. The experiment was conducted in the net house during winter (November to February) of the Department of Environmental Science at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU). The absence of mycorrhizal spores was confirmed in the soil using a stereomicroscope by following the wet sieving and decanting method [48]. The average temperature was 22°C during the experiment.

2.2. Chemical Analysis

The collected soil samples were brought into the laboratory for chemical analysis before fertilization [49]. Soil samples were dried with sunlight. Then, the samples were crushed and sieved with 250 μ size sieve and kept in Ziploc bags with proper tagging. The percentages of total nitrogen (0.086%), phosphorus (9.6 mg·kg⁻¹), exchangeable potassium (0.28 meq^−100g), and pH (7.34) were detected by the Kjeldahl method [50], by the Olsen method [51], by the ammonium acetate extraction method [50], and by the glass electrode pH meter [50] in soils, respectively (Table 1).

2.3. Tomato Seedlings, Pots, and Fertilizers

Seeds of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties (Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super) were collected from the research and development wing of Lal Teer Institute in Bangladesh. These varieties were selected based on their growing season and height. These tomatoes are grown in winter (November to February) in Bangladesh. They need 18 to 22°C temperature. Seeds of three tomato varieties were spread into the soil in a concrete structured seedbed separately for the growing of seedlings during November 2020. Three tomato seedlings of each variety were transferred into the soil in each pot at week 3. Urea, triple superphosphate (TSP), and muriate of potash (MOP) were applied as nutrients. Plastic-made pots and pesticides were purchased from a local shop in Bangladesh. The sizes of the pots were 25/25 cm. The volume of the pot with soil was 8 kg. Urea (550 kg·ha⁻¹), triple superphosphate (TSP) (250 kg·ha⁻¹), and muriate of potash (MOP) (250 kg·ha⁻¹) were applied according to the BARC recommendations to the soil in each pot.

2.4. Mycorrhizal Fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species (CL149: Acaulospora morrowiae, CL699: Paraglomus occultum, CA201: Funneliformis mosseae, BR143A: Rhizophagus clarus, and WV116: Rhizophagus intraradices) was cultured with Sorghum separately in a concrete structured seedbed for multiplication as a source of AMF in the Department of Environmental Science at BSMRAU. AMF species were collected from the International Collection of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (INVAM). AMF species were collected separately from the inoculated plants of Sorghum. Hyphae, vesicles, and spores were included in the AMF inoculum (Figure 1). Mycorrhizal spores in the soil and vesicle, hyphae, and arbuscules in the root samples were observed before using as treatment in pot soils by following the wet sieving and decanting method [48]. The spores in the watch glass were observed under a stereomicroscope (Figure 1). The number of spores was expressed as the total number of spores in 100 g of soil. Each sample was observed around 100 intersections of roots under the compound microscope (Zeiss Primo Star, Carl Zeiss Ltd., Germany). Mycorrhizal colonization was recorded based on the presence of hyphae, vesicles, or arbuscule in a root segment (Figure 1). The colonization of AMF in roots was calculated using the following formula: % root colonization = total number of positive segments/total number of segments studied × 100 [52]. In Sorghum, the average percentages of root colonization and spores in 100 g soil of AMF species were 40 and 50, respectively, before using as treatment. In tomatoes, the average percentages of root colonization and spores of AMF species were 45 and 60, respectively, after using them as treatments (Figure 1).

2.5. Treatments

Three tomato varieties (Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super) and six treatments comprised of T₁ = A. morrowiae, T₂ = P. occultum, T₃ = F. mosseae, T₄ = R. clarus, T₅ = R. intraradices, and T₆ = control (non-AMF). Five replications of each treatment were used, and the total number of pots was 90 in this experiment. Soil moisture was less than 10%. A soil moisture meter was used for maintaining expected moisture content in soil samples. Fifty gram AMF soil kg⁻¹ pot soil was used in this experiment (5% of total biomass).

2.6. Biomass Growth

Average shoot length, number of leaves, length of leaves, the width of leaves, and branches of leaves were noted using a measuring tape (cm) during week 9 of each treated tomato plant. The root and shoot’s average dry and fresh weight were measured separately using an electrical balance after harvesting each treated tomato plant at week 18. The yield was recorded during the collection of each tomato variety grown in pot soil (Figures 2 and 3).

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(b)

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(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

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(j)

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Figure 3

Effect of AMF on (a) number of leaves, (b) length of leaves, (c) leaf width, (d) number of branches, (e) root length, (f) shoot length, (g) dry weight of root, (h) fresh weight of root, (i) dry weight of shoot, (j) fresh weight of shoot, and (k) yield of Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super tomatoes (mean ± SEM) grown in soil under drought condition. Means denoted by different letters indicate a difference at 0.05% level of significance. Three varieties, 5 replications, and 5 treatments with one control were used in this experiment.

2.7. Collection of Leaves and Fruits for the Analysis of Photosynthetic Pigments, Antioxidants, and Minerals

Tomato leaves were taken after inoculation with AMF on week 9 for biochemical analysis. Tomato fruits were collected on week 18 for the analysis of minerals. All treated samples were kept in Ziploc bags with proper labeling for chemical analysis. Then, samples with iceboxes containing liquid nitrogen were carried into the laboratory.

2.8. Chlorophyll and Carotenoids

The chlorophyll content of tomato leaves was detected following the method described by Arnon [53]. Chlorophyll contents were calculated using the following formula:(i)Chlorophyll a (mg·g⁻¹·FW) = (0.0127 × A₆₆₃) − (0.00269 × A₆₄₅).(ii)Chlorophyll b (mg·g⁻¹·FW) = (0.0229 × A₆₄₅) − (0.00468 × A₆₆₃).(iii)Total chlorophylls (mg·g⁻¹·FW) = (0.0202 × A₆₄₅) + (0.00802 × A₆₆₃).(iv)The carotenoids were determined as per the formula of (mg·g⁻¹·FW) = (1000 × A₄₇₀ – 2.270 × Chl. a – 81.4 × chl. b)/227 [14].

2.9. Malondialdehyde (MDA)

The malondialdehyde content of tomato leaves was determined by the method of Heath and Packer [54]. The absorbance of the colored supernatant was taken at 532 nm. The MDA content was estimated using an extinction coefficient (Є) of 155 mM·cm⁻¹.

The following formula was used for the calculation of MDA content = 3 × 5 × (ΔA/Є) × 2 µm·min⁻¹·g⁻¹·FW.

2.10. Catalase (CAT)

Catalase (CAT) activity in tomato leaves was estimated by the method of Aebi [55]. The activity was calculated by using an extinction coefficient of 6.93 × 10⁻³ mM·cm⁻¹. The activity of CAT was determined by the following formula:

2.11. Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX) Activity

The APX was calculated using an extinction coefficient of 2.8 mM·cm⁻¹. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was determined by the following formula: unit activity (units min⁻¹·g⁻¹·FW) = change in absorbance/min. × total volume (ml)/extinction coefficient × volume of samples (ml). APX activity (mM·min⁻¹·mg⁻¹·P) = unit activity (units min⁻¹·g⁻¹·FW)/protein mg·g⁻¹. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was estimated by the method of Nakano and Asada [56].

2.12. Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂)

According to Loreto and Velikova [57], hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content was determined in tomato leaves. Tomato leaves of 0.5 g were homogenized in 3 mL of 1% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The homogenate was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm and 4°C for 10 min. Subsequently, 0.75 mL of the supernatant was added to 0.75 mL of 10 mM K-phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), and 1.5 mL of 1 M KI. H₂O₂ concentration of the supernatant was evaluated by comparing its absorbance at 390 nm to a standard calibration curve. The concentration of H₂O₂ was calculated from a standard curve plotted in the range from 100 to 1000 μ mol·mL⁻¹. H₂O₂ concentration was expressed as μ mol·g⁻¹ FW.

2.13. Digestion and Detection of Minerals

Tomato fruits were digested individually using a hot plate [58]. For the fruit samples, 0.2 g fresh samples was placed into a clean beaker and 8 mL concentrated HNO₃ was mixed with it. The beaker was put into the hot plate for 2 hours at 90°C temperature on the following day. Usually, heating stopped when a white dense fume of HNO₃ was released into the air. Then, the samples were cooled and diluted to 25 ml with deionized water and filtered through Whatman No. 42 filter paper. Lastly, samples were kept in polyethylene bottles. All glassware was washed with 2% HNO₃ followed by rinsing with deionized water and drying. Minerals in tomato fruits such as Ca, Fe, K, Mg, and Na were analyzed by flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FI-HG-AAS, Perkin Elmer A Analyst 400, USA) [59].

2.14. Quality Control

Quality assurance such as reagent quality, cleaning, accuracy, precision, instrumentation, and reliability, blank analysis, replication, internal standard, and certified reference materials were followed properly according to the proposed guidelines of the National Association of Testing Authorities [60]. Along with their guidelines, several QC parameters are highlighted in Table 1. Photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant activities, and mineral contents of tomatoes were detected using three technical replicates for each sample in the Laboratory of Environmental Science at BSMRAU.

2.15. Statistical Analysis

The completely randomized design (CRD) was followed in this experiment. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and effects of treatment on biomass, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidants, and minerals of tomatoes were analyzed using Minitab software. The separation of means considering the two factors was performed by the Tukey HSD test. All data were normally distributed.

3. Results

3.1. Biomass Growth

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) treatment on root length, dry weight, fresh weight of root and shoot, and yield were found statistically different () in Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super tomatoes under drought stress. The interaction effect of treatment and variety on root length, shoot’s dry and fresh weight, and yield was significantly different (Supplementary Table (available here)). The number of leaves, length of leaves, leaf width, branches, fresh and dry weight of roots, shoot length, and yield were found statistically similar to controls in A. morrowiae, P. occultum, F. mosseae, R. clarus, and R. intraradices-treated tomato plants (Figure 3). In R. intraradices-treated Minto super tomato, root length was significantly higher than that of the control (Figures 2 and 3). In Paraglomus occultum-treated Minto super tomato, shoot dry and fresh weight was significantly higher than that of other varieties. The dry weight of the shoot was enhanced by 28% with AMF treatment compared to the control. The yield of tomatoes increased by 20% with AMF treatment than that of non-AMF plants under drought stress (Figure 3).

3.2. Photosynthetic Pigments and Antioxidants

The effects of AMF treatment and the interaction results of treatment and varieties on chlorophyll and carotenoids were statistically similar in Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super tomato varieties. Effects of treatment and interaction results of treatment and varieties on catalase (CAT), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were noted significantly different () in tomatoes grown in soil under drought stress (Supplementary Table). In A. morrowiae, P. occultum, F. mosseae, R. clarus, and R. intraradices treatments, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid were found statistically similar to controls in tomato varieties (Table 2). In P. occultum-treated plants, CAT activity in the Unnayan tomato was found statistically higher than that of the control. CAT activity in AMF-treated plants was found statistically similar to the control in LT896 and Minto super tomatoes (Table 2). Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was detected lower in R. clarus-treated LT896 tomatoes than in controls. However, H₂O₂ was recorded as statistically similar to the control in AMF-treated Unnayan and Minto super varieties (Table 2). In A. morrowiae and R. clarus-treated plants, APX activity was found significantly higher than that of control in Unnayan tomato. AMF treatment had no significant effect on APX activity in LT896 and Minto super tomato varieties. Similarly, MDA content in AMF-treated plants was statistically similar to the control (Table 2). CAT and APX activity was increased by 42% and 66% in AMF-treated Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super tomato varieties as compared with non-AMF/control under drought stress. In contrast, AMF treatment decreased MDA and H₂O₂ (ROS) in tomatoes by 50% and 2% compared to the control, respectively (Table 2). These findings suggest that AMF enhanced photosynthetic pigment and antioxidant activities in tomato leaves compared with the control (Figure 4).

3.3. Minerals

The effects of AMF treatment and the interaction result of treatment and varieties on sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) in tomato fruits were statistically different in Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super tomato varieties grown in soil under drought stress. In AMF-treated tomato varieties, mineral contents increased significantly (Supplementary Table). In P. occultum and R. intraradices-treated plants, Na was found statistically different from that of the control in Unnayan tomato (Table 2). Na content in AMF treatment was found statistically different in LT896 tomato compared with the control. In A. morrowiae, P. occultum, and F. mosseae-treated plants, Na was found statistically higher than that of the control in Minto super tomato (Table 2).

Potassium (K) was found statistically higher in F. mosseae-treated Unnayan tomato than that of control. In contrast, in F. mosseae, R. clarus, and R. intraradices-treated plants, K was found statistically similar to the control in LT896 and Minto super tomato (Table 2).

In F. mosseae and R. intraradices-treated plants, Ca was found statistically higher than that of the control in the Unnayan tomato (Table 2). In F. mosseae, R. clarus, and R. intraradices treatments, Ca was found significantly higher than that of the control in LT896 tomato. Similarly, in R. intraradices treatment, Ca was found statistically higher than that of the control in Minto super tomato (Table 2). In R. clarus treatment, Mg was found significantly higher than that of control in Unnayan and LT896 tomatoes. Moreover, in R. clarus treatment, Fe was detected as significantly higher than that of the control in the Unnayan tomato (Table 2). In A. morrowiae, P. occultum, and R. clarus treatments, Fe was found statistically higher than that of the control in the LT896 tomato. On the other hand, in A. morrowiae, F. mosseae, and R. intraradices treatments, Fe was recorded as higher than that of the control in Minto super tomato (Table 2). K, Ca, Mg, and Fe of tomato fruits increased by 2%, 13%, 24%, and 37% with AMF treatments (Table 2). These results reveal that AMF enhanced mineral contents in tomato fruits compared with the control under drought stress (Figure 4).

4. Discussion

The symbiotic relationship of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with host plants is persistent for a prolonged period ensuring nutrient uptake into the host plant. Thus, AMF enhance biomass growth as well as enable the plant to resist environmental stresses. In this study, five species of AMF (A. morrowiae, P. occultum, F. mosseae, R. clarus, and R. intraradices) were used to treat three popular tomato varieties under drought stress. AMF are well known for their ability to increase biomass growth by colonizing the majority of food crops [61]. Here, we found that AMF increased shoot length, dry weight of root and shoots, leaves, and yield of tomato varieties (Figures 3 and 4). The mechanism of biomass growth is directly connected with the extended hyphal network of AMF in the root zone. The hyphal networks in non-AMF plants are much thinner than the roots of host plants [62, 63]. Thus, nutrients are readily available for the host plants when colonized with AMF [5, 64–66]. AMF can also increase water use efficiency and improve the quality of fruits [63]. A similar growth effect of AMF is also found in many food crops such as S. lycopersicum L. [64], Sorghum bicolor (L.) [65], Withania somnifera (L.) [66], Cucurbita maxima [67], Piper longum L. [68], Phaseolus vulgaris L., Pisum sativum, Lens culinaris, and Vigna radiata [16, 19, 27].

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can prompt the buildup of carotenoids, phenolics, and anthocyanins in the leaves of different food crops. In most cases, AMF increased the contents of carotenoids, chlorophylls, and tocopherols in green and red leaf lettuce. These molecules are also important to enhance the minerals in edible vegetables [69]. For instance, chlorophyll contents are enhanced by 31–35% in AMF-treated pea crops [12]. Similarly, chlorophyll contents were higher compared to control in mung beans grown in AMF soils [14, 70]. In this study, both chlorophyll and carotenoids were found higher in AMF-treated tomato varieties under drought stress (Table 2 and Figure 4).

AMF enhance antioxidant enzyme activity in food crops. Literature showed that SOD, CAT, and APX increased in AMF (R. irregularis)-treated Elaeagnus angustifolia L. plants [71]. In peas, soil amendment with AMF increased CAT and POD activity by 24 to 46%. AMF also significantly improved the proline content in plants [42]. Similarly, CAT activity was found higher than that of the control in P. occultum-treated Unnayan tomatoes. In A. morrowiae and R. clarus-treated plants, APX activity was also found higher than that in the control (Table 2). Thus, soil amendment with AMF significantly improved antioxidant enzyme activity in food crops [12].

AMF produce glomalin, which is also known as glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), which works as a glue that promotes the formation of water-stable aggregates by physical entanglement of extraradical hyphae, thus improving the water-holding capacity of the soil and stabilizing the structure of the soil [46]. Additionally, AMF regulate antioxidant activities, osmolyte accumulation, and gene expression and maintain plant water status and photosynthetic performance under drought stress [47]. As a result, AMF reduce drought stress in food crops through the stimulation of metabolites [72]. In this aspect, increased metabolites decrease the osmotic potential in the AMF-inoculated plants that improve the photosynthetic pigments [12]. AMF plants also alter drought-induced oxidative stress by scavenging ROS through antioxidant activities [73]. However, the activity of SOD, CAT, APX, and glutathione reductase (GR) increases through AMF inoculation in crops grown under drought stress [74]. The SOD is the principal defender for the reduction of oxidative stress. Several researchers also reported that AMF enhance APX, CAT, SOD, and GR activities, which verified to improve biomass growth in food crops grown under drought stress [73].

In this study, the increased antioxidant potential in AMF-treated tomato plants reduces ROS. For example, H₂O₂ content was detected higher in control than AMF (R. clarus)-treated LT896 tomato variety under stress. However, MDA was also found higher in the control than in the AMF-treated tomatoes under drought stress in this experiment (Table 2). An excessive amount of ROS such as hydroxyl radicals (˙OH), superoxide radicals (O₂^–), singlet oxygen (¹O₂), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) creates oxidative stress and damages membrane lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids and even causes the death of cells [75, 76]. In this situation, antioxidants enable the removal of ROS [77–79]. Consequently, oxidative stress is reduced due to the minimization of ROS accumulation in plants under stress conditions [80, 81].

AMF increase mineral contents in tomato fruits [82, 83]. In this experiment, Na, Ca, Mg, K, and Fe contents under A. morrowiae, P. occultum, R. clarus, R. intraradices, and F. mosseae treatments were found higher than those of the control (Table 2 and Figure 4). The fungal structure of AMF-like arbuscules can assist in the exchange of inorganic minerals and compounds [84, 85]. Consequently, an association of AMF with host plants increases the nutritional value of fruits [82, 86, 87]. Although the effect of AMF on the edible portions of plants is less clear, AMF can increase micronutrients and macronutrients in plants. For instance, AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae) improve the quality of fruits, particularly minerals, vitamins, and flavor compounds (sugars, titratable acids, and volatile compounds) in fruits [88]. It was found that AMF inoculation increased the nutritional quality of tomato fruits. Likewise, antioxidant capacity, carotenoids, and volatile compounds were significantly higher in AMF plants compared with non-AMF under stress conditions. AMF might be used in other food crops grown in stress condition that will enhance nutritional quality and antioxidant activities [89]. Taken together, these results show that AMF represent a promising resource for improving both sustainable food production and human nutritional needs for future demand throughout the world.

5. Conclusions

AMF increased biomass growth, yield, and nutritional quality in tomato cultivars (Unnayan, LT896, and Minto super) grown in soil under drought stress. The shoot’s dry weight and yield were enhanced by 28% and 20% on AMF-treated tomatoes, respectively, compared to the control under drought stress. AMF also increased the catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity as well as reduced MDA and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content. CAT and APX activity increased by 42% and 66% in AMF-treated tomatoes compared to non-AMF. In contrast, AMF treatment decreased MDA and H₂O₂ (ROS) in tomatoes by 50% and 2% compared to the control, respectively. K, Ca, Mg, and Fe of tomato fruits increased by 2%, 13%, 24%, and 37% with AMF treatments. Although AMF enhanced the yield and yield-contributing attributes of tomato varieties in pot trials, further field studies are suggested in multiple sites to verify these results. These results suggested that biomass growth, yield, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzyme activity, and mineral contents could be enhanced by AMF in food crops grown under drought stress. It is concluded that AMF might be used for the development of AMF-enriched biofertilizers that will reduce fertilizer demand and improve the nutritional quality of food crops grown under stress conditions.

Data Availability

All data used to support the findings of the study are available within the article.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Authors’ Contributions

Mohammad Zahangeer Alam was responsible for original draft preparation, funding acquisition, review, and editing. Tasrina Rabia Choudhury was responsible for formal analysis. MAU Mridha was responsible for review and investigation.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the laboratory of Environmental Science and Crop Botany at BSMRAU. The authors are especially grateful to Research Management Wing at BSMRAU and the Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST) for their funding to conduct this research.

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary Table: ANOVA-two way. (Supplementary Materials)

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Copyright © 2023 Mohammad Zahangeer Alam et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Journal of Food Quality

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Biomass Growth, Mineral Content, and Antioxidant Activity in Tomato Plants under Drought Stress

Abstract

1. Introduction

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Soil Sampling

2.2. Chemical Analysis

2.3. Tomato Seedlings, Pots, and Fertilizers

2.4. Mycorrhizal Fungi

2.5. Treatments

2.6. Biomass Growth

2.7. Collection of Leaves and Fruits for the Analysis of Photosynthetic Pigments, Antioxidants, and Minerals

2.8. Chlorophyll and Carotenoids

2.9. Malondialdehyde (MDA)

2.10. Catalase (CAT)

2.11. Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX) Activity

2.12. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)

2.13. Digestion and Detection of Minerals

2.14. Quality Control

2.15. Statistical Analysis

3. Results

3.1. Biomass Growth

3.2. Photosynthetic Pigments and Antioxidants

3.3. Minerals

4. Discussion

5. Conclusions

Data Availability

Conflicts of Interest

Authors’ Contributions

Acknowledgments

Supplementary Materials

References

Copyright

2.12. Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂)